AP exit data to be relased at close of polls

(Host)
When polls close across Vermont
about an hour from now, the Associated Press will begin releasing data from its
exit polling.

The
AP exit polls are typically the first to project the winners of major races,
like today's presidential primary.

AP
Polling Director Mike Mokrzycki covers the polls in Vermont.

Speaking
today on Vermont Edition, he said there's a second, more valuable purpose to
exit polling.

(Mokrzycki) "We also use the
surveys to explain why the election turned out the way it did - why the winner
won, why the loser lost. And in my mind,
that's where exit polls are especially invaluable because there's no other way
to get that information. We need a survey to be able to find out which demographic
groups favored a certain candidate, or which issues or candidates' qualities or
other factors were decisive in the outcome."

(Host)
The Associated Press collects data in 20 precincts across the state.

At
each site the AP aims to conduct surveys with 100 voters.

And
there's an ‘organized randomness' to selecting voters for exit polling.

(Mokrzycki) "The interviewers are
instructed to approach, say, every fifth person as they leave the voting booth.
What we do not want is for interviewers to pick only people who look like they
may be friendly and cooperative because that may introduce bias into the
sample."

(Host)
Mokrzycki says the AP will not release polling data in any state before that
state's polls are closed.

The
policy means last-minute voters won't be influenced by early predictions of who
will win a given race.